Hello. I'm looking for some assistance. I have 2 years consulting experience at one of "Big 4" followed by 18 months industry related experience in private sector. Going after experienced hire roles in consulting but no joy so far, not even getting to initial interview stage.Should I be looking to go back into consulting through a graduate scheme i.e. Deloitte, CapGem, IBM, ACN etc. Or should I look to get more industry experience then re-apply? Will the 4 years experience gained count against me for graduate schemes? Cheers

yes, it will

What are the roles you are applying for? What was your specific consulting experience? Why did you leave consulting in the first place? Why do you want to rejoin the industry? What skills do you feel you have?With respect, (and remembering I don't have the answers to the above) I can see you being a bit of a tough sell back in to consulting at this stage, certainly as an experienced hire.A grad role - perhaps, but wouldnt this be a backwards step? Have you considered staying in your current role until you can actually demonstrate having learned something and then re-apply as a more convincing experienced hire?

I agree with SenorMick. Most likely answer is that you fall between two stools and are too easily seen by CV-sifters as the worst of both worlds - ex-consultant that had only just finished being polished when they jumped ship, now have too little experience to be considered an industry hire, probably picked up lots of industry bad habits and forgotton all the MC polishing that went on into the bargain.Sorry, but in times of limited hiring, that;s the sort of thinking that prevails.

Have to agree - rule of thumb at some firms is to divide outside experience by 2 and therefore you would be at most a 2nd-year analyst coming back through the grad intake. Which would be a painful but necessary step if you really wish to come back to consulting.

Question for those who responded to the original poster: Would 3 years consulting experience and a move to internal operational consulting (to get industry depth and slightly shift skill focus) lead to similar problems when attempting to return to consulting? Assuming 3 year stay. (See vodafone thread 63670...all thoughts very welcome!!)Thanks,P

More or less, yes.